Wed, Feb 26, 2025 11:30 AM

College Admissions Officers who allow students to upload their resumes want them to be short, sweet, and to the point. In today’s competitive college landscape, the way your student presents themselves on paper can make all the difference. A well-organized and thoughtfully crafted 1 to ½ page resume can highlight your daughter or son’s achievements and make them stand out from the rest of the crowd. When helping your student build their college admissions resume, consider using simple and traditional resume formats. Admissions Officers want to find the important details quickly, without searching through cluttered designs.

Start by including their GPA—both weighted and unweighted—to give colleges a clear understanding of their academic performance. Be sure to also highlight any relevant coursework and set up individual sections on the resume to highlight Honors, Extracurricular Activities (clubs, sports, volunteer work), and Work Experience. These will give colleges insight into who your student is both inside and outside the classroom. It’s crucial to focus not just on what they did, but also on what they learned and how they grew from each experience. Using active verbs like “Organized,” “Led,” or “Initiated” will help to bring their roles to life. For each activity, limit descriptions to no more than one or two bullet points, emphasizing growth, achievements, and leadership roles. Numbers and percentages can be powerful tools—whether it’s increasing membership in a club or achieving fundraising goals, quantifying their impact makes their accomplishments more tangible.

Encourage your student to include soft skills as well, such as teamwork, problem-solving, and communication abilities, as these are highly valued by colleges. Make sure they are being honest and professional throughout their resume. It’s also essential to include basic contact information like their name, phone number, email, address, and LinkedIn link if they have one. Digital presence matters more than ever, and a well-curated LinkedIn profile can be a great addition, especially if they’re pursuing a field like business or technology. LinkedIn allows students to showcase their strengths and promote certifications or other achievements, adding another layer to their college application.

When it comes to what NOT to add, steer clear of flashy templates (unless you are a rising artist), fancy career objectives or a mission statement, or listing obvious skills like Microsoft Office, which are typically assumed. Avoid using full sentences or excessive punctuation in bullet points. Professionalism is key, so make sure your student uses an appropriate email address and avoids including a profile photo. Grammatical errors can be a deal-breaker, so proofread carefully. It’s always a good idea to ask teachers, employers, or even parents to critique the resume before sending it out.

The best way to keep track of all these achievements is to start early. Encourage your student to document volunteer work, leadership roles, and other experiences throughout high school. This not only makes resume-building easier but also helps them reflect on their high school journey and personal growth.

Need some extra help navigating the college process? Schedule your FREE Discovery Zoom meeting today! We’re here to make sure your student stands out for all the right reasons.

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